So, neither and nor

Do you get bored with English grammar sometimes? So do we!

Yes, believe it or not even the experts can find grammar quite boring occasionally. Maybe it depends on the day. You know those days when it’s hard to motivate yourself to study? Well, I have a suggestion. Repetition is the key to learning a language. So, instead of sitting down and reluctantly doing some vocabulary revision or grammar exercises, why not combine learning with some physical activity? Just write a few sentences in big writing on a piece of paper. Then stick the paper to a wall. Next, do some physical activity as you read and repeat the sentences! You can run on the spot while practicing the third conditional, do some squats while repeating relative clauses or do a bit of yoga while revising so, neither and nor! So next time you’re thinking “I’d rather watch paint dry than study English grammar” – get active!

We put the words so, neither or nor at the beginning of a sentence when someone makes a statement and we want to reply that the same situation is true for us or somebody else.

Positive statements – So

When someone makes a positive statement and we want to say that the same situation is true for us, we use the word so

For example, if someone says:

I would like some coffee

and you would also like some coffee, you can reply:

So would I

Notice that in this reply we use the auxiliary verb would.
We generally make these kind of replies by using the same auxiliary verb as the first speaker used.

Here are a few examples:

I can drive.
 – So can I.

I should go home now.
 – So should I.

I‘ll go to bed early.
 – So will I.

If the first speaker uses the verb to be without an auxiliary verb, we use the verb to be in the reply:

I’m hungry.
 – So am I.

I was late.
 – So was I.

If the first speaker uses a verb other than to be but without an auxiliary verb, we use do or did in the reply:

I love chips.
 – So do I.

I went to the cinema.
 – So did I.

If the first speaker uses the verb have we can use either have or do in the reply:

I have a cat.
 – So have I.
or
 – So do I.

I had a big breakfast.
 – So had I.
or
 – So did I.

Negative statements – Neither and Nor

When we want to reply to a negative statement because the same is true for us, we generally use the word neither in the reply. We can also use nor but neither is more common. We follow the same rules we use with so. As the words neither and nor are negative words, we use the positive form of the auxiliary verb.

For example:

I can’t swim.
 – Neither can I.

I won’t be there.
 – Nor will I.

With the verb to be we reply to a negative statement using neither or nor. For example:

I’m not happy.
 – Neither am I.

I wasn’t at home.
 – Neither was I.

Talking about a third person

We can also use so, neither and nor when referring to a third person. For example:

My brother can play the piano.
So can mine.

My dog smells awful.
 – So does mine.

Maria can’t speak English.
 – Neither can Jose.

Talking about two people

We can also use so, neither and nor structure when referring to two people in one sentence. For example:

My brother is very good at tennis and so is my dad.
Bill doesn’t like animals and neither does his wife.

Neither…nor..

We can also use the structure neither….nor… to refer to two people. For example:
Neither Bill nor his wife like animals.
Neither the Germans nor the Dutch play rugby.